Written Answers

Wednesday 13 September 2000

Scottish Executive

Ambulance Service

Mr Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make provision for access for ambulances from Port Appin to the island of Lismore to assist with medical emergencies.

Susan Deacon: The Scottish Ambulance Service, as part of its "Beyond 2000" initiative, is reviewing the deployment and operation of the Accident & Emergency service across Scotland. Many islands such as Lismore will be dependent upon the first response to medical emergencies being provided by a general practitioner or community nurse. Where there is an urgent need for Ambulance Service support and transfer to hospital, then the Air Ambulance Service, including the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service, may be used. The Scottish Executive has invested significant additional resources in the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service in the past few years, extending the flying hours and the clinical capability of the aircraft.

Asylum Seekers

Shona Robison (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what preparations have been made by police forces to cope with any increase in the numbers of asylum seekers.

Mr Jim Wallace: Police forces across Scotland worked closely with local authorities and other agencies to prepare for the possibility of incoming refugees from Kosovo in 1999. Key efforts by the police included the identification of suitable interpreters and the production of literature explaining the role of police officers in Scotland and the service they provide. While such activity was scaled down when the Kosovan Refugee Programme in Scotland focused on the Strathclyde area, plans remain in readiness across Scotland.

Asylum Seekers

Shona Robison (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any policy has been developed across all police forces for addressing racist attacks and abuse aimed at the growing refugee population.

Mr Jim Wallace: All forces currently have in place Race Relations Policies designed to ensure the fair and equitable treatment of the people and communities they serve, including refugees and asylum seekers. Moreover, the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS) published A Racial Diversity Guidance Manual on 1 August for Scottish police forces to use in the fight against all forms of racism. This guidance manual complements the ACPOS Racial Diversity Strategy and sets out broad principles for the police to tackle racism, including instructions for officers on reporting, recording and investigating racist crime.

  I am arranging for copies of both documents to be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Asylum Seekers

Shona Robison (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what training the police have undergone in preparation for the dispersal of asylum seekers.

Mr Jim Wallace: Nationally, the Scottish Police College provides Equal Opportunities training for all new recruits, serving officers and support staff. The topics covered include Racism Awareness, Cultural Diversity and Cross-Cultural Communications.

  In addition all forces have reviewed, or are in the process of reviewing, local training provision for Equal Opportunities and Race Awareness, with many giving a greater emphasis to asylum seeker issues.

Bridges

Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any deterioration of the road bridge over the Montrose basin; whether it has seen the current engineering reports on the bridge; whether it will publish these engineering reports; whether it will work with Angus Council to expedite the replacement of the bridge, and whether it will ensure that during the bridge replacement an alternative bridge suitable for heavy vehicles will be in place.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive is aware that Angus Council as the local roads authority is currently planning for a replacement of the Montrose bridge. The Executive has not received engineering reports on the structural condition of the existing bridge. We understand that during the construction phase of a replacement bridge the council would expect to make provision for heavy goods vehicles at all times.

City of Edinburgh

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated number is of major events or VIP or royal visits anticipated to the City of Edinburgh for the year from July 2000.

Mr Jack McConnell: The Scottish Executive is responsible for only a small proportion of the major events and VIP and Royal visits to Edinburgh each year and is therefore not in a position to provide the information sought.

Environment

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive which organisations have responded to its consultation letter of 24 March 2000 on the European Commission White Paper on Environmental Liability and whether it intends to publish the response it forwards to the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions.

Sarah Boyack: The following organisations have responded to the Scottish Executive consultation on the European Commission White Paper on Environment Liability:

  


Aberdeen City Council 


Orkney Islands Council 




Accounts Commission 


Renfrewshire Council 




Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland 


Royal Environmental Health Institute for Scotland 




British Energy 


Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors 




Clackmannanshire Council 


Royal Town Planning Institute in Scotland Scottish Borders Council 




Convention of Scottish Local Authorities 


Scottish Borders Council 




Crofters Commission 


Scottish Centre for Infection & Environmental Health 




Common Services Agency 


Scottish Enterprise 




Crown Estate Office 


Scottish Environment Protection Agency 




Defence Estates Scotland 


Scottish Grocers Federation 




Dundee City Council 


Scottish Natural Heritage 




Environmental Law Section of the Society of Public Teachers of 
Law 


Scottish Power 




East Ayrshire Council 


Scottish Sports Council 




East of Scotland Water Authority 


Scotch Whisky Association 




Faculty of Advocates 


Stirling Council 




Glasgow University 


Writers to the Signet Society 




Highland Council 


West Dumbartonshire Council 




Highlands & Islands Enterprise 


West of Scotland Water Authority 




Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland 


West of Scotland Water Authority 




Institute for European Environmental Policy 


World Wide Fund for Nature Scotland 




National Farmers Union of Scotland 


United Kingdom Environmental Law Association 




North Ayrshire Council 


United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority 




North Lanarkshire Council 


United Kingdom Major Ports Group 




North of Scotland Water Authority 


University of Edinburgh Law Faculty 




  Copies of all the responses received, together with a summary of the responses, have been lodged in the Scottish Executive library. A copy of this summary has been sent to the Department of Environment Transport and the Regions, and is also available at http:// www.scotland.gov.uk/library2/doc16/envliab.asp.

Ferry Services

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the operation of the Renfrew ferry requires to go out to tender following European Commission directives regarding state aid to ferry services and, if this is not a requirement, why it is not.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive has asked relevant local authorities for details of their current ferry services. This information will be taken into consideration in forming a judgment on whether services, including the Renfrew ferry, need to be tendered.

Ferry Services

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a regulator will be appointed to supervise the franchise or franchises following the tendering of Caledonian MacBrayne routes and, if so, who would appoint and fund the regulator and to whom the regulator would be accountable.

Sarah Boyack: No decisions have yet been taken. The Executive has made representations to the European Commission in light of my statement to Parliament and is currently considering the way forward in relation to tendering the CalMac services, including the question of regulation, in the light of responses to the consultation document Delivering Lifeline Ferry Services . I will announce decisions in due course.

Fuel Costs

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what are the fuel costs, broken down by mode of transport, for CalMac on an annual basis since 1997.

Sarah Boyack: This is a matter for Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd. The information requested is not held centrally.

Fuel Costs

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what fuel costs have been incurred by each water authority annually since 1997.

Sarah Boyack: I have asked each authority to provide information on their fuel costs, and their responses are detailed below:

  


West of Scotland Water Authority 







1997-98
£ million 


1998-99
£ million 


1999-2000
£ million 




Electricity, Gas and other heating fuels 


6.60 


7.03 


6.48 




Other (mainly vehicle fuel) 


1.75 


1.97 


2.38 




Total 


8.35 


9.00 


8.86 




  


East of Scotland Water Authority 



 

1997-98
£ million 


1998-99
£ million 


1999-2000
£ million 




Electricity, Gas and other heating fuels 


6.91 


6.68 


7.08 




Other (mainly vehicle fuel) ** 


1.40 


1.40 


1.40 




Total 


8.31 


8.08 


8.48 




  ** EOSWA Vehicle fuel : Best available estimate - figures not held centrally.

  


North of Scotland Water Authority 



 

1997-98
£ million 


1998-99
£ million 


1999-2000
£ million 




Electricity, Gas and other heating fuels 


5.05 


5.01 


4.86 




Other (mainly vehicle fuel) 


1.30 


1.47 


1.74 




Total 


6.35 


6.48 


6.60

Genetically Modified Crops

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make publicly available all relevant information on the safety of the genetically modified oil seed rape to be grown on trial at New Craig Farm, Daviot, and whether it can guarantee that there is no possibility of cross-pollination with wild or cultivated plants within a 20-mile radius of the farm.

Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive granted consent for the application to plant a crop of genetically modified winter-grown oilseed rape at the Daviot site based on the advice of the statutory Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) that the crop did not pose a threat to public health or environmental safety. It is normal practice for ACRE’s advice to be published.

  It is recognised that there will be pollen dispersal from a crop which is grown in the open and this is why the environmental risk assessment to which all applications are subjected considers carefully the safety implications of cross-pollination and the impact of foraging insects. ACRE have concluded that there are no safety issues from cross-pollination – to either human or animal health, or to the environment.

Health

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to develop a clinical network on child health.

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any existing or planned clinical networks on child health.

Susan Deacon: There are many aspects of child healthcare which lend themselves to the Managed Clinical Network approach. There are no Managed Clinical Networks in any paediatric service at the moment, although the national Managed Clinical Network in cleft lip and palate has a strong children’s component. The Scottish Executive would always be interested in considering proposals from clinicians for the development of such networks.

Hospitals

Mr Lloyd Quinan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have been referred to the Royal Alexandra Hospital, Paisley in 1999-2000.

Susan Deacon: This information is not held centrally. Management responsibility for the Royal Alexandra Hospital rests with Argyll and Clyde Acute NHS Hospitals Trust. The information requested can be obtained from the Trust and I have asked its Chairman to respond directly.

Hospitals

Mr Lloyd Quinan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have been treated for cataracts at the Vale of Leven District General Hospital in 1999-2000.

Susan Deacon: This information is not held centrally. Management responsibility for the Vale of Leven Hospital rests with Argyll and Clyde Acute NHS Hospitals Trust. The information requested can be obtained from the Trust and I have asked its Chairman to respond directly.

Housing

Euan Robson (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it envisages that after its housing stock transfer proposals are implemented the local authority strategic function will include determining adequate levels of housing provision for victims of domestic abuse and violence and monitoring the level of such provision by housing associations.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The Code of Guidance on Homelessness, to which local authorities must have regard in applying the homelessness legislation, provides guidance on how local authorities should apply the legislation to those households affected by domestic disputes.

  The forthcoming Housing Bill will introduce new duties on local authorities to produce homelessness strategies and on registered social landlords to accept homeless people when requested by local authorities. Both local authorities and RSL’s will be regulated on the performance of these duties by the Executive Agency replacing Scottish Homes.

Housing

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much housing association grant was allocated to housing associations in each local authority in each year from 1995-96 to 1999-2000 inclusive, in real terms.

Ms Wendy Alexander: For the period in question the information was not collected in the form requested.

Local Government

Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to redraw local authority boundaries.

Mr Frank McAveety: Under the existing legislative provisions the next statutory review of local authority boundaries is not scheduled to take place until 2004 at the earliest.

Ministers

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review and reallocate subject areas of ministerial responsibility in the light of the division between existing departments of responsibility for matters arising from the examination marking process.

Donald Dewar: I shall consider all aspects of the relationship between Ministers and the SQA in the light of the review of the authority which was announced on 6 September.

NHS Staff

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many breast surgeons will be fully trained in 2000-01 and 2001-02.

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many accident and emergency consultants will be fully trained in 2000-01 and 2001-02.

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many anaesthetists will be fully trained in 2000-01 and 2001-02.

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many geriatric consultants will be fully trained in 2000-01 and 2001-02.

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many opthalmologists will be fully trained in 2000-01 and 2001-02.

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many trauma and orthopaedic surgeons will be fully trained in 2000-01 and 2001-02.

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many clinical radiologists will be fully trained in 2000-01 and 2001-02.

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many paediatricians will be fully trained in 2000-01 and 2001-02.

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many general surgeons will be fully trained in 2000-01 and 2001-02.

Susan Deacon: Details of the number of trainees who will become fully trained and will be awarded a Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training (CCST) for the years requested is given in Table 2, Annex B of NHS MEL (2000) 24, published on 28 April 2000. A copy of this is available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 7379).

  The numbers of consultants employed by the NHS in Scotland in the specialties referred to in questions asked by Mary Scanlon on 25 July 2000 are shown in attached Table 1. The information is as at 30 September 1999 and has been obtained from the Medical and Dental Manpower Census, General Medical Practitioner Database, ISD Scotland. The number of fully trained consultants employed in these specialties in 2000-01 and 2001-02 cannot be predicted with accuracy because it is affected by individual decisions to retire, but the whole time equivalent (WTE) number rose by 28% between 1994 and 1999, and increases are expected to continue.

  Information on breast surgeons is not shown or collected as a separate data item in either the NHS MEL or the census referred to above. Such surgeons are recorded within one of the surgical specialties detailed in the MEL and the table.

  Table 1: Consultants Employed by the NHSiS in Selected Specialties Headcount at 30 September 1999

  


Specialty 


No. 




Accident & Emergency 


44 




Anaesthetics 


436 




Cardiology 


45 




Geriatrics 


93 




Clinical Oncology 


40 




Paediatrics 


99 




Cardiothoracic Surgery 


21 




General Surgery 


194 




Ophthalmology 


73 




Orthopaedic Surgery 


140 




Paediatric Surgery 


13 




Plastic Surgery 


22 




Community Child Health 


32

NHS Staff

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cardiologists will be fully trained in 2000-01 and 2001-02.

Susan Deacon: The number of Specialist and Senior Registrars expected to be awarded a Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training (CCST) in the specialty of cardiology for the years requested is given in the attached table.

  I also refer Mary Scanlon to the answer I have given today to question S1W-8849.

  Expected CCST Dates of Current Specialist and Senior Registrars in Cardiology

  





Year 







2000 


2001 


2002 




Number 


7 


8 


4

National Lottery Awards

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what payments have been made from the Heritage Lottery Fund to (i) national Scottish museums, (ii) industrial heritage museums and (iii) other museums in each of the last three years, what funding was made available to each individual museum under this scheme and for what purpose funding was given.

Rhona Brankin: The information requested is in the attached two tables:

  


Heritage Lottery Funding 


1997-98
(£) 


1998-99
(£) 


1999-2000
(£) 




National Museums of Scotland 


1,156,173 


80,000 


46,000 




National Galleries of Scotland 


467,160 


41,000 


7,952,400 




Industrial Heritage Museums 


4,250,000 


15,300 


- 




Other Museums 


3,856,350 


1,475,008 


1,389,400 



 

9,729,683 


1,611,308 


9,387,800 




  


Heritage Lottery Funding
Applicant 


Project Title 


Date 


Amount 




National Museums of Scotland 




National Museums of Scotland 


Victoria & Albert Fireclay Statues – Acquisition 


12/11/99 


£46,000 




Royal Museum of Scotland 


Heaven & Hell Exhibition, Royal Museum of Scotland 


26/1/99 


£80,000 




Scottish United Services Museum 


Stewart Silver Hilted Claymore -Acquisition 


19/3/98 


£5,000 




National Museums of Scotland 


Royal Museum Gallery 21 - Phase A refurbishment 


25/11/97 


£995,800 




Scottish United Services Museum 


Northesk’s Trafalgar Sword & Medal – Acquisition 


7/10/97 


£136,700 




National Museums of Scotland 


Howe Tricycle – Acquisition 


23/9/97 


£18,673 




National Galleries of Scotland 




National Galleries of Scotland 


Duff House - Candelabra 


9/12/99 


£88,000 




National Gallery of Scotland 


Botticelli, Virgin Adoring the Sleeping Christ Child 


6/11/99 


£7,687,000 




Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art 


Hepworth, Wave – Acquisition 


15/10/99 


£127,400 




Scottish National Portrait Gallery 


De Medina - John 1st Marquess of Tweeddale 


10/6/99 


£50,000 




Duff House Country House 


Duff House Scottish Country House Gallery 1750 – 2000 


26/1/99 


£41,000 




National Galleries of Scotland 


Turner, Calton Hill & Heriots Hospital - Acquisition 


19/3/98 


£75,770 




National Galleries of Scotland 


John Knox Drawings, Acquisition 


10/9/97 


£15,000 




National Galleries of Scotland 


Two paintings by Jacques Sablet (1749-1803) 


12/8/97 


£73,500 




National Galleries of Scotland 


National Gallery of Scotland, Hamilton’s "Dawkins & 
Wood" 


22/7/97 


£302,890 




Industrial Heritage Museums 




Scottish Mining Museum Trust 


Frances Colliery Winding Engine 


5/5/98 


£15,300 




Scottish Fisheries Museum Trust 


Scottish Fisheries Museum - Project Zulu - Premises 


19/3/98 


£664,000 




Scottish Mining Museum Trust 


Scottish Mining Museum - Lady Victoria Colliery 


21/10/97 


£3,574,000 




Scottish Fisheries Museum Trust 


Scottish Fisheries Museum - Fire Alarm 


9/7/97 


£12,000 




Other Museums 




Dundee City Council 


Wighton Heritage Centre for Scottish Music 


2/3/2000 


£162,000 




Glasgow City Council 


Kelvingrove New Century Project 


27/1/2000 


£378,500 




Stirling Smith Art Gallery 


Stirling Story 


2/3/2000 


£80,000 




University of Edinburgh 


Renaissance Ivory Recorder - Acquisition 


2/3/2000 


£78,000 




Dornoch Heritage Society 


Dornoch Heritage Society Project, Sutherland 


2/2/99 


£2,900 




Ferryhill Heritage Society 


Ferryhill Heritage Society Project, Aberdeen 


2/2/99 


£3,079 




Blantyre Heritage Group 


Heritage Group Project, Blantyre 


2/2/99 


£1,832 




Lanark Museum Trust 


Lanark Museum IT Project 


2/2/99 


£3,799 




Renfrewshire Local History Forum 


Renfrewshire Local History Forum Conference 


2/2/99 


£2,600 




East Dunbartonshire Council 


Auld Kirk Museum, Kirkintilloch - Development 


9/12/99 


£142,000 




Angus Council 


Gateway to the Glens, Kirriemuir 


9/12/99 


£73,300 




Crail Museum Trust 


Crail Museum, Access Improvement 


11/6/99 


£17,600 




Bo’ness Development Trust 


Scottish Railway Museum Storage & Display Building 


10/6/99 


£275,000 




Grampian Transport Museum 


Cruden Bay Hotel Tramcar Restoration 


15/4/99 


£43,000 




Dollar Museum Trust 


Dollar Museum Refurbishment 


16/3/99 


£42,560 




Aberdeen City Council 


Aberdeen 2000 


26/1/99 


£30,000 




Scottish Borders Council 


Century of Childhood 


26/1/99 


£30,000 




Dumfries & Galloway Museums 


Collecting for the Millennium, Dumfries Museum 


26/1/99 


£45,300 




CSV Community History Project 


Our Twentieth Century in Photographs 


26/1/99 


£29,800 




North Ayrshire Council 


Waving by the Sea, Ayrshire 


26/1/99 


£10,000 




Glasgow City Council 


Gheeraerts, Portrait of Elizabeth Vernon – Acquisition 


24/9/99 


£140,000 




Almond Valley Heritage Trust 


Almond Valley Heritage Centre Museum Development 


25/2/99 


£354,000 




Dollar Museum Trust 


Dollar Museum Refurbishment 


25/2/99 


£45,300 




Dollar Museum Trust 


Dollar Museum Refurbishment 


25/2/99 


£42,560 




Highland Council 


Hands on the Highlands, Inverness Museum 


25/2/99 


£48,000 




City of Edinburgh Council 


Highlander Shop Sign – Acquisition 


25/2/99 


£20,000 




Shetland Amenity Trust 


Tangwick Haa, Eshaness – Extension 


2/6/98 


£96,000 




Aberdeen City Council 


Aberdeen Shipmaster Society Collection – Acquisition 


3/3/98 


£25,000 




Buckie Fishing Heritage Museum 


Buckie District Fishing Heritage Museum – Equipment 


4/9/98 


£1,500 




Dumbreck Community Flat Management Committee 


Dumbreck Museum Visits 


4/9/98 


£1,120 




Uig Heritage Trust 


Uig Heritage Centre Resources 


4/9/98 


£4,500 




Bennie Museum, Bathgate 


Bennie Museum, Bathgate – Refurbishment 


6/1/98 


£89,900 




Stirling Burgh Council 


National Wallace Monument Marble Busts, Stirling 


8/4/98 


£12,800 




Perth & Kinross Council 


Fergusson, Christmas Time-South of France – Acquisition 


16/10/98 


£78,500 




University of Glasgow 


Mackintosh Houshill Chair – Acquisition 


16/4/98 


£70,000 




Bressay History Group 


Bressay Heritage Centre Facilities 


23/6/98 


£2,938 




Carmunnock Preservation Society 


Carmunnock Heritage Project 


23/11/98 


£735 




Cowal Archaeological & Historical Society 


Carbon Dating 


23/11/98 


£1,122 




Heritage, Arts & Leisure Society (Cupar) 


Multi-Media 


23/11/98 


£500 




Durness Local Studies Durness 


Local Studies Publishing Project 


23/11/98 


£1,372 




Garioch Heritage Society 


Garioch Heritage Society Information Technology Project 


23/11/98 


£1,953 




Gorbals Heritage Group 


Gorbals Heritage Information Project 


23/11/98 


£4,938 




Kelty Heritage Group 


Kelty Heritage Group Book Project 


23/11/98 


£3,000 




Newton Stewart Museum 


Newton Stewart Museum Poster Project 


23/11/98 


£2,200 




Moray Society 


Elgin Museum Repairs 


25/8/98 


£56,500 




National Trust for Scotland 


Kellie Castle Lorimer Family Artefacts Acquisition 


25/8/98 


£22,200 




Orkney Natural History Society Museum Trust 


Stromness Museum Refurbishment 


25/8/98 


£182,800 




Shetland Islands Council 


Shetland Museum Photo Image Database 


16/10/98 


£218,600 




Museum of Abernethy Trust 


Museum of Abernethy 


2/12/97 


£113,700 




National Trust for Scotland 


Culloden Visitor Centre: 18th Century Needlework Sampler 


12/8/97 


£15,000 




City of Edinburgh Council 


Roman Lioness Sculpture from Cramond 


12/8/97 


£35,000 




Orkney Islands Council 


Tankerness House Museum, Kirkwall –Refurbishment 


12/8/97 


£38,000 




University of Glasgow 


Kelvin Gallery, Hunterian Museum 


21/10/97 


£2,443,000 




Grantown Museum & Heritage Trust 


Burnfield House, Grantown on Spey – Refurbishment 


22/7/97 


£273,750 




Kilmartin House Trust 


Kilmartin House, Kilmartin, Lochgilphead 


22/7/97 


£823,000

Police

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the actual or estimated cost to Lothian and Borders Police of providing officers at Sheriff Courts within Lothian and Borders for safety and security has been on an annual basis since 1997.

Mr Jim Wallace: This information is not held centrally. The provision of officers at Sheriff Courts is an operational matter. It is therefore chief constables who decide on the level of resources to allocate.

Poverty

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the implications are for its social justice strategy as outlined in the document Social Justice…a Scotland where everyone matters , specifically for the milestones and targets within its responsibility, of the recommendation in the recent report into poverty in Scotland by the Scottish Affairs Select Committee that Her Majesty’s Government should conduct a review of the activities of licensed credit brokers who encourage vulnerable people to take on financial commitments that they cannot sustain and, in the light of any such implications, what representations it will make to Her Majesty’s Government regarding this recommendation.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The licensing of credit brokers is a matter for DTI. Social Justice...a Scotland where everyone matters contains milestones which are UK benchmarks in reserved areas where policy delivery is largely outwith the Scottish Executive. Any implications of this recommendation would largely be for these milestones.

  However poverty can only be successfully tackled by the Government and the Executive working together. The Scottish Executive will continue its regular dialogue with UK ministers on how the Scottish Executive and the UK Government can best work together to tackle poverty through the Joint Ministerial Committee on Poverty.

Poverty

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the implications are for its social justice strategy as outlined in the document Social Justice…a Scotland where everyone matters , specifically for the milestones and targets within its responsibility, of the recommendation in the recent report into poverty in Scotland by the Scottish Affairs Select Committee that an "in-depth review of the working of the Social Fund and its impact on some of the most vulnerable sections of the community is long overdue" and, in the light of any such implications, what representations it will make to Her Majesty’s Government regarding this recommendation.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The operation of the Social Fund is a matter for DSS. Social Justice…a Scotland where everyone matters contains milestones which are UK benchmarks in reserved areas where policy delivery is largely outwith the Scottish Executive. Any implications would be largely for these milestones.

  However poverty can only be successfully tackled by the Government and the Executive working together. The Scottish Executive will continue its regular dialogue with UK ministers on how the Scottish Executive and the UK Government can best work together to tackle poverty through the Joint Ministerial Committee on Poverty.

Poverty

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the implications are for its social justice strategy as outlined in the document Social Justice…a Scotland where everyone matters , specifically for the milestones and targets within its responsibility, of the recommendation in the recent report into poverty in Scotland by the Scottish Affairs Select Committee that the level of state retirement pension should be linked to changes in national average earnings and, in the light of any such implications, what representations it will make to Her Majesty’s Government regarding this recommendation.

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the implications are for its social justice strategy as outlined in the document  Social Justice…a Scotland where everyone matters , specifically for the milestones and targets within its responsibility, of the recommendation in the recent report into poverty in Scotland by the Scottish Affairs Select Committee that Her Majesty’s Government should look "very carefully at how best it could further promulgate advice to pensioners and maximise take-up of benefits" and, in the light of any such implications, what representations it will make to Her Majesty’s Government regarding this recommendation.

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the implications are for its social justice strategy as outlined in the document Social Justice…a Scotland where everyone matters , specifically for the milestones and targets within its responsibility, of the recommendation in the recent report into poverty in Scotland by the Scottish Affairs Select Committee that the earnings disregard for disabled people should immediately be increased to a more appropriate ceiling and that it should apply for a period of six months and, in the light of any such implications, what representations it will make to Her Majesty’s Government regarding this recommendation.

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the implications are for its social justice strategy as outlined in the document Social Justice…a Scotland where everyone matters , specifically for the milestones and targets within its responsibility, of the recommendation in the recent report into poverty in Scotland by the Scottish Affairs Select Committee for a carefully evaluated pilot project in Glasgow to establish the worth and viability of disregarding the working families’ tax credit as income for the purpose of assessing entitlement to housing and council tax benefit and, in the light of any such implications, what representations it will make to Her Majesty’s Government regarding this recommendation.

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the implications are for its social justice strategy as outlined in the document Social Justice…a Scotland where everyone matters , specifically for the milestones and targets within its responsibility, of the recommendation in the recent report into poverty in Scotland by the Scottish Affairs Select Committee that local social security offices be given local autonomy and local budgets and, in the light of any such implications, what representations will it make to Her Majesty’s Government regarding this recommendation.

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the implications are for its social justice strategy as outlined in the document Social Justice…a Scotland where everyone matters , specifically for the milestones and targets within its responsibility, of the recommendation in the recent report into poverty in Scotland by the Scottish Affairs Select Committee that the Benefits Agency Remote Access Terminal scheme run by South Lanarkshire Council be extended across the rest of Scotland and, in the light of any such implications, what representations it will make to Her Majesty’s Government regarding this recommendation.

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the implications are for its social justice strategy as outlined in the document Social Justice…a Scotland where everyone matters , specifically for the milestones and targets within its responsibility, of the recommendation in the recent report into poverty in Scotland by the Scottish Affairs Select Committee that "the Government should introduce take-up targets for the DSS to encourage a positive outward-looking attitude to benefit provision" and, in the light of any such implications, what representations it will make to Her Majesty’s Government regarding this recommendation.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The level of and the conditions governing entitlement to benefits is a matter for DSS. Social Justice…a Scotland where everyone matters contains milestones which are UK benchmarks in reserved areas where policy delivery is largely outwith the Scottish Executive. Any implications would be largely for these milestones.

  However, poverty can only be successfully tackled by the Government and the Executive working together. The Scottish Executive will continue its regular dialogue with UK ministers on how the Scottish Executive and the UK Government can best work together to tackle poverty through the Joint Ministerial Committee on Poverty.

Roads

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Borders Council has considered traffic calming or road stopping measures in Selkirk in the evaluation of the A7 Route Action Plan.

Sarah Boyack: Consideration is being given to traffic calming measures within Selkirk as part of the A6091/A7 Route Action Plan study.

Roads

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to upgrade the Whitletts roundabout on the A77 at its intersection with the A719 and B743 to the north east of Ayr.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive has no plans to upgrade the A77/B743 Whitletts Roundabout.

  A design is currently being progressed to construct a roundabout at the A77/A719 Sandyford Toll Junction together with the closure of the centre reserve gaps between this junction and Whitletts Roundabout. Subject to the satisfactory completion of the necessary statutory procedures and the availability of funding, work will commence next year.

Roads

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has plans to conduct a survey of non-trunk roads similar to the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions’ National Road Maintenance Survey.

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the last survey on non-trunk roads was carried out and whether it will publish it or place a copy in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive has not carried out such a survey and has no plans to do so. A survey was carried out and the results published in August 1997 by the Society of Chief Officers of Transportation in Scotland. I understand that the Society of Chief Officers of Transportation in Scotland is currently carrying out a consultation exercise with local authorities to update the position on the condition of local roads.

Roads

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the timescales are for all preparatory survey works prior to the commencement of the M77 extension.

Sarah Boyack: A ground investigation survey will be undertaken before the end of this year and an archaeological survey is programmed for next spring.

Roads

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that no delays occur to the extension of the M77 as a result of the Glasgow southern orbital inquiry.

Sarah Boyack: The Executive is ensuring that the powers for the extension of the M77 will allow it to be taken forward separately should the two councils be unable to obtain approval to construct the Glasgow southern orbital.

School Transport

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any circumstances under which local authorities are required to transport children to school free of charge.

Peter Peacock: Under section 51 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980, education authorities have a duty to make such arrangements as they consider necessary for the provision of free transport, or for provision of other transport facilities as may be arranged, or for paying all or part of reasonable transport expenses for school pupils belonging to their area and attending designated schools. The details of any arrangements made are for each education authority to determine in the light of local circumstances. In general, they make such arrangements for pupils who live outwith the statutory walking distance, defined in section 42(4) of the 1980 Act as being two miles for any pupil under eight years of age and three miles for any other pupil.

School Transport

Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much central provision for subsidised school transport was made available in 1999-2000 and what the projected support is for the next three financial years, all figures broken down by education authority.

Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the level of provision was for free school transport at the beginning of September 2000, broken down by education authority.

Peter Peacock: Scottish Executive financial support for local authority expenditure is not allocated for particular services. It is for each local authority to determine what provision is necessary for school transport and other services from the general resources available to them.

Scottish National Heritage

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive to provide a breakdown of monies spent by Scottish Natural Heritage on foreign travel in each of the last two years.

Sarah Boyack: Scottish Natural Heritage spent a total of £40,431 in 1998-99 and £41,678 in 1999-2000 on foreign travel.

Sport

Fiona McLeod (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4328 by Mr Sam Galbraith on 10 March 2000, when the Football Partnership will make its report publicly available, whether the Partnership met again on 24 March and whether a statement was issued thereafter.

Rhona Brankin: The Football Partnership did meet on the 24 March and a Scottish Executive news release reporting the outcome of the meeting was issued that day. The news release also provided details of how the paper containing the detailed proposals considered by the partnership could be obtained.

State Hospital Carstairs

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether approval has been given to fund the staff training at the State Hospital, Carstairs, which would be necessary for it to extend the anger management project to all relevant wards identified by the multidisciplinary management group.

Susan Deacon: I refer Mrs Scanlon to the answer I gave to S1W-8826 on 14 August.

Transport

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that adequate public transport links are in place in all new hospital developments, such as the new Wishaw General Hospital.

Sarah Boyack: Consideration of proposals for new hospital developments are for local councils in the first instance. National Planning Policy Guideline (NPPG) 17, Planning and Transport, emphasises the importance of such developments being well served by public transport, walking and cycling networks. Additionally, Scottish local authorities are being encouraged by the Scottish Executive to address, through the adoption of Local Transport Strategies, specific needs including public transport access to facilities such as hospitals. Planning approval for the Wishaw Western General Hospital pre-dated the NPPG.

Transport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive on the basis of what costings and timetabling public funding has been allocated to the City of Edinburgh Rapid Transit scheme.

Sarah Boyack: The City of Edinburgh Council submitted its detailed bid for the City of Edinburgh Rapid Transit scheme to the Transport Challenge Fund competition in June 1996. That bid contained estimated costs of and a projected timescale for development. The then Government gave the council permission to incur expenditure of up to £15 million under section 94 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, with this award timetabled as follows:

  


1997-98 


1998-99 


1999-2000 




£4 million 


£6 million 


£5 million 




  At the council’s request, the award was subsequently reprofiled to accommodate slippage caused by the parliamentary Order and the development of the Private Finance Initiative package. Further reprofiling of the award may be necessary.

Transport

Alex Fergusson (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the use of the free bicycle bus between Creetown and Newton Stewart is monitored to determine how much use is made of it by (a) holidaymakers and (b) local residents.

Sarah Boyack: Patronage is monitored by the number of passengers. A passenger is a person with a bicycle. Between 29 June and 2 September the bike bus carried 644 passengers. The monitoring does not distinguish between holidaymakers and local residents.

Transport

Alex Fergusson (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it costs to run the bicycle bus between Creetown and Newton Stewart per week and how much it has cost to date.

Sarah Boyack: The cost of the bike bus is currently £875 per week. The bus was commissioned on 22 June (the date of the official opening of the National Cycle Network Millennium Routes) and the cost to the end of August was £7,875.

Transport

Alex Fergusson (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when the dedicated cycle route between Creetown and Newton Stewart will be completed.

Sarah Boyack: This is a matter for Dumfries and Galloway Council.

Transport

Alex Fergusson (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how long it envisages the free bicycle bus between Creetown and Newton Stewart being run.

Sarah Boyack: I expect the bus to run until the end of October 2000, when Dumfries and Galloway Council anticipate that the related section of the National Cycle Network will be complete.